School holidays 2027/2028: Ireland term dates
In the 2027/2028 school year, Irish schools break for the October mid-term (Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027), Christmas, the February mid-term and Easter (Mon 10 Apr – Sun 23 Apr 2028). These are the standardised term dates set by the Department of Education in Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all primary and post-primary schools.
Coverage: These dates apply to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland publishes a separate school calendar.
Term dates 2027/2028 (primary & secondary)
| Break | Primary schools | Secondary schools | Reopen |
|---|---|---|---|
| October Mid-Term Break | Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027 | Mon 25 Oct – Fri 29 Oct 2027 | Monday 1 November 2027 |
| Christmas Holidays | Thu 23 Dec 2027 – Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Thu 23 Dec 2027 – Wed 5 Jan 2028 | Thursday 6 January 2028 |
| February Mid-Term Break | Thu 24 Feb – Fri 25 Feb 2028* | Mon 21 Feb – Fri 25 Feb 2028 | Monday 28 February 2028 |
| Easter Holidays | Mon 10 Apr – Sun 23 Apr 2028 | Mon 10 Apr – Sun 23 Apr 2028 | Monday 24 April 2028 |
* Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week off, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Most post-primary schools reopen in the last week of August 2027 and most primary schools reopen at the end of August or the start of September 2027 (each school sets its own reopening date).
Primary schools close for the summer at the end of June 2028. Post-primary schools generally close at the end of the school year in late May/June 2028, around the start of the State examinations.
Add the 2027/2028 school year to your calendar
Break-by-break guides
Each break has its own page with the last day of school, the reopening date, the primary and secondary difference and a calendar download.
Public holidays during the 2027/2028 school year
- October Bank Holiday Mon 25 Oct 2027
- Christmas Day Sat 25 Dec 2027
- St. Stephen's Day Sun 26 Dec 2027
- New Year's Day Sat 1 Jan 2028
- St. Brigid's Day Mon 7 Feb 2028
- Saint Patrick's Day Fri 17 Mar 2028
- Easter Monday Mon 17 Apr 2028
- May Bank Holiday Mon 1 May 2028
- June Bank Holiday Mon 5 Jun 2028
- August Bank Holiday Mon 7 Aug 2028
Frequently asked questions
When is the october mid-term break in 2027/2028?
Schools close 25 to 29 October 2027 and reopen on Monday 1 November 2027.
When is the christmas holidays in 2027/2028?
Schools close 23 December 2027 to 5 January 2028 and reopen on Thursday 6 January 2028.
When is the february mid-term break in 2027/2028?
Secondary schools close 21 to 25 February 2028 and primary schools 24 to 25 February 2028. All schools reopen on Monday 28 February 2028.
When is the easter holidays in 2027/2028?
Schools close 10 to 23 April 2028 and reopen on Monday 24 April 2028.
How many days must schools be open each year?
Primary schools must provide a minimum of 182 tuition days and post-primary schools a minimum of 166 days. The standardised breaks above are set so schools can meet these minimums.
Do all schools in Ireland follow these dates?
Yes, for the main breaks. The dates above come from Department of Education Circular 0018/2026 and apply to all recognised primary and post-primary schools, including Gaelscoileanna and DEIS schools. Individual schools set a small number of their own discretionary closure days, so confirm the details with your child's school.
Related
Verified against DoE Circular 0018/2026 on 26 July 2026. Source of truth: gov.ie standardised school year circular.